Punjab Govt to allow brick industries to pay lumpsum VAT

Chandigarh, Oct 20 (UNI) The Punjab Government today decided to allow brick industries in the state to pay VAT on a lumpsum basis on the pattern of Haryana.

A decision to this effect was taken at a high-level meeting held here today with a delegation of the Punjab Brick kiln Owners Association. The meeting was presided by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

It may be recalled that brick industry in Punjab was paying lump sum sales tax many years prior to the implementation of VAT system which replaced sales tax.

The Chief Minister directed the Chief Secretary to hold a separate meeting of representatives of brick industry with the Department of Food and Supplies and Industries to sort out their other demands.

Mr Sarbjit Singh Makkar, MLA from Adampur, pleaded the case of brick kiln association. He urged the Chief Minister to revise the rates of brick industry, keeping in view the steep escalation in the cost of gravel, coal and wages of labour.

Mr Badal assured the association that its genuine demands would be considered sympathetically and asked the Chief Secretary to convene a meeting to revise the rates of the brick industry.